Points of Order (Hansard, 23 February 1987)

§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)
On a point of order Mr. Speaker. On Friday I sought to table the following early-day motion—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman should not read out the motion. I have been informed about it. If the hon. Gentleman is dissatisfied in any way with the advice that he was given by the Table Office—I have not seen the motion, as it was not submitted to me—he should ask the Table Office to refer the matter to me. If he will do that, I shall examine it.

§ Mr. Kenneth Hind (Lancashire, West)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Conservative Members unreservedly accept your ruling on the question—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There is nothing more to be said on that matter.

§ Mr. Eric Forth (Mid-Worcestershire)
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There is nothing more to be said on that matter. I have accepted the apology that has been proffered.

§ Mr. Forth
It is on a different point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wonder whether you could help the House by making it clear what the position is henceforth with regard to the naming of any hon. Member in any early-day motion. Is it now clear, and is it now your policy and that of the Table Office, that from this point on no early-day motion will be accepted that names in any way whatsoever or attributes to any hon. Member any views, opinions or political positions? Is that now the position?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is certainly not the position. The normal rules apply as before. The only way in which the conduct of an hon. Member may be criticised is by way of early-day motion. What I hope that the House will accept is that hon. Members will refrain from making imputations of dishonour or disloyal conduct against each other, which we would not allow across the Chamber at Question Time and which I certainly would not wish to see as early-day motions on the Order Paper.

§ Mr. Forth
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it, then, clear that the attribution of views to an hon. Member is quite permissible and that the association of an hon. Member, where he has taken a position publicly in an early-day motion, is quite acceptable and will be accepted by the Table Office?

§ Mr. Speaker
I think that the whole House understands exactly what the position is. We have an obligation in the House to uphold the high standards that we have inherited. I hope we shall always do so.

§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The matter I wish to raise with you came to my notice only while travelling down this morning, in one of the daily journals—[Interruption.] I realise that the main reading of Conservative Members is Beano, but I was reading one of the quality newspapers in the train this morning. Since it arrived after 12 o'clock I could not raise this matter with you as one of the things that has to be brought to your attention by 12 o'clock. Could you advise the House as to what we can do about a very grave matter indeed? It is now quite clear that the President of the United States intended to kill President Gaddafi—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Among my many responsibilities, that is not one. That was certainly known before 12 o'clock.

§ Mr. Faulds
rose—

§ Mr. Greenway
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Faulds
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must resume his seat.

§ Mr. Faulds
I did not know about it until 12 o'clock.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot help that.

§ Mr. Faulds
Since the Prime Minister—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is setting a very bad example.

§ Mr. Faulds
She gets away with murder. (See column 161, "Parliamentary Conduct".)

§ Mr. Greenway
I am most grateful for your advice, Mr. Speaker. I return to the question of the Table Office and the tabling of early-day motions. Having once done that, may I ask you, because I am unclear—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am not prepared to allow the hon. Gentleman to read out an early-day motion which is not on the Order Paper. That early-day motion was not brought to me for my attention. If the hon. Gentleman wished it to be drawn to my attention he should have said so. I have now said that if he wants to have it drawn to my attention I shall ensure that it is sent to me. I have no knowledge of what it is.

§ Sir Kenneth Lewis (Stamford and Spalding)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask whether you can assure the House that the rule which you have applied in connection with recent early-day motions, which is accepted by everybody, will also apply to early-day motions tabled by some people at some time in the past applying to people outside the House who have even less chance to justify themselves than those who are Members of the House?

§ Mr. Speaker
I am glad to have this opportunity to reaffirm that hon. Members should use with the greatest care their undoubted rights of free speech in naming people outside the House who have no opportunity to reply. Hon. Members should always exercise that right and privilege with the greatest consideration and responsibility.

§ Mr. Greenway
Further to that point or order, Mr. Speaker. I shall not read out my motion, but I must ask you why an early-day motion submitted by me was altered without reference to you.

§ Mr. Speaker
I understand that the hon. Member was given certain advice by the Table Office and that he accepted it.

§ Mr. Greenway
indicated dissent.

§ Mr. Speaker
If the hon. Member did not accept that advice, he should have asked for me to be informed. I was not so informed.

§ Mr. Faulds
Further to the point or order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am not prepared to take it.

§ Mr. Faulds
The Prime Minister—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I ask the hon. Member to resume his seat.